14/06/2026
How times have changed ( blimey, that headline makes me feel old!)
When I started dog walking 11 years ago, all you really needed was a decent waterproof coat, a pair of muddy boots, some basic insurance, and a love of dogs....that was pretty much it.
At the time there were fewer than 40 dog walkers in Plymouth. Now, depending on whose figures you believe, there are around 200! The boom really happened after COVID, when lots of people reassessed their working lives and many discovered that spending the day with dogs sounded a lot more appealing than sitting behind a desk.... Sunny days filled with dog cuddles and wagging tails ? Hmmnn.
The downside is that competition is tougher than it's ever been.
Thankfully, after 11 years, I have a well established client base and most of my work comes through word of mouth and recommendations. That has always been the biggest compliment anyone can give me and I'm always very grateful to all my clients for this.
What I can't compete with is the younger generation of dog walkers who seem able to produce endless streams of sparkly social media videos, fancy editing and content across every platform known to mankind ( to me , tiktok is still just the sound a clock makes!)
I'm not particularly good with technology and, if I'm honest, I don't really have any desire to be.
I'd rather spend my time with the dogs rather than learning how to add trending music to a reel (I honestly wouldn't have a bloody clue 😬) .
So instead, I rely on my wonderful clients telling people about their experiences and trusting that good old-fashioned reputation still counts for something 🤞.
Another huge change has been the rise of private and secure dog fields.
Now before anyone sharpens their pitchforks, I think they absolutely have their place. They're fantastic for training sessions, nervous dogs, recall work, introductions and giving certain dogs a safe environment to run ( I have even taken Luca to one who so far has the recall of a duck) .
But I do sometimes wonder whether we've started confusing "exercise" with "dog walking."
To me, dog walking has always been about more than simply burning energy.
It's about exploring new places, sniffing new smells, navigating different environments etc. .... I guess reading the canine equivalent of social media that's been left behind on every lamppost, gate post and tree.
An hour in a field can provide exercise.
A walk provides experiences.
The best walks do both 👌
One of the biggest challenges I've noticed over recent years has been the increase in reactive, poorly socialised and under-trained dogs.
COVID undoubtedly played a role. Thousands of people bought puppies during lockdowns when socialisation opportunities were limited and normal life simply wasn't happening and I now think we are seeing the consequences of that.
More dogs struggling around other dogs and people and owners lacking confidence.
This has led to more situations where everyone else is expected to adapt around the least controlled dog in the area.
It often feels as though a friendly, well-socialised dog is now expected to move aside, go on lead, change direction and accommodate every dog that might react badly to its presence.
Of course, responsible owners should be considerate of one another, and genuinely reactive dogs deserve understanding and support but sometimes I do wonder if we've swung slightly too far in one direction.
The modern dog world can occasionally feel a bit like modern parenting.....every unwanted behaviour is endlessly analysed, every boundary becomes a debate and every consequence is considered potentially traumatic and I think somewhere in the middle, common sense occasionally gets left behind.
I am not however suggesting we return to outdated training methods....Far from it .
One positive change has been the growing understanding of canine body language, stress signals, breed-specific needs and mental stimulation. The industry is far more educated than it was 10 years ago, and that's undoubtedly a good thing.
As for the weather...
Well, whether you believe in climate change ( I think I'm classed as a 'denier' 😂, natural weather cycles 👌, or something in between, one thing seems undeniable....
The weather itself has changed.
I don't remember quite so many days where horizontal rain is travelling at 50mph and it seems impossible to have rain without gale-force winds attached.
Dodging falling branches and avoiding flooded paths has become an unexpected occupational hazard.
WHAT HASN'T CHANGED....
For all the things that have changed over the last 11 years, there are a few things that haven't.
👌My commitment to your dogs.
👌My commitment to safety.
👌My commitment to continuing to learn.
Most people only see the fun bits of dog walking , the muddy paws, the countryside photos and the wagging tails. What they don't see is the training, research and education that happens behind the scenes.
Whether it's canine first aid, behaviour, body language, breed specific needs or understanding the latest thinking around dog welfare, I'm always trying to improve my knowledge and become a better dog walker than I was the year before.
I think the moment we think we know everything about dogs is probably the moment we should stop working with them.
Above all else, safety remains my number one priority!....Not social media, not numbers,not squeezing as many dogs as possible into a walk....
Safety.
Every decision I make, from which dogs walk together to where we walk, how we travel and how I manage situations out and about, is based on keeping your dogs safe, happy and comfortable.....that has never changed and never will.
So, while the industry may have moved towards flashy videos, trending audio clips and TikTok dances (thankfully, nobody wants to see me attempting those), I'll continue doing what I've always done ... turning up come rain or shine, putting the dogs first and trying my best to give them an enjoyable, enriching and safe experience.
If you have got to the end of this without tears of boredom, thank you for reading. Writing and moaning are two other things I enjoy and am pretty good at !
Becci 🐾
